Princeton CarbonWorks Peak 4550 Evolution II

Princeton CarbonWorks Peak 4550 is the climber's aero wheelset — a 45 mm front / 50 mm rear hand-built carbon wheelset that climbs like a shallow wheel and holds speed like a deep one. Built around Sapim CX-Ray spokes and a choice of premium hubs, it's the wheelset for riders who want one set of wheels for everything from alpine climbs to fast group rides.

Who it's for

All-round road riders, climbers, gran-fondo riders, and racers who want a single wheelset that handles a 1,500 m climb day and a flat 40 km/h group ride with equal confidence — without the crosswind nervousness of a 60 mm wheel.

Why riders choose them

• 45 mm front / 50 mm rear sinusoidal profile. Symmetric deep wheels are nervous in crosswinds and slow up climbs. The Peak's wavy rim profile and split depth give you climbing weight where it matters (front) and aero hold where it matters (rear) — so you ride one wheelset on every road.
• From 1,071 g (tubular) / 1,396 g (clincher). Most aero wheels punish climbing days. The Peak's low weight is genuinely close to a dedicated climbing wheel — you stop noticing it on the climbs and feel it on the flats.
• Sapim CX-Ray spokes + Secure Lock nipples. Standard bladed spokes loosen on rough roads and force re-trues every few months. CX-Ray with Sapim locking nipples stay true through full winters and big-day descents.
• Hand-built in the USA. Mass-produced wheelsets cut corners on lacing tension and rim QC. Princeton hand-builds and individually tensions every wheel — you feel it in the stiffness under hard efforts and the trueness after 10,000 km.
• Five hub options to match your riding. Carbon Ti for light, Tune for fast engagement, White Industries for legendary durability, Industry Nine for explosive pickup, or Tactic for top-tier racing — pick the hub that suits how you actually ride, not how the brand wants to sell.
• Disc or rim brake, clincher or tubular. Older rim-brake race bikes deserve modern wheels too. Peak 4550 ships in disc and rim brake versions, in clincher/tubeless or tubular — match your current bike without compromise.

Specifications

• Rim depth: 45 mm front · 50 mm rear (sinusoidal profile)
• Internal rim width: 18.5 mm (hook-to-hook)
• External rim width: 26 mm max
• Weight: from 1,071 g (Tune hubs, rim, tubular) · 1,396 g (Tune hubs, disc, clincher)
• Spokes: Sapim CX-Ray
• Nipples: Sapim Secure Lock alloy
• Hub options: Carbon Ti · Tune · White Industries · Industry Nine · Tactic TR01
• Brake type: Disc (centre-lock) or rim brake
• Freehub bodies: Shimano HG · Campagnolo · SRAM XDR (on request)
• Tyre bed: Clincher/tubeless ready or tubular
• Construction: Hand-laid carbon, hand-built in USA

Compatibility & intended use

Designed for modern road bikes (disc or rim brake) running 25–30 mm tyres. Ideal for climbers, all-round road riders, racers, and gran-fondo riders who want one fast, light, stable wheelset for every road.

• Climbing focus: 5/5 — climbs like a dedicated shallow wheel
• Aero focus: 4/5 — holds speed on flats and rolling terrain
• Stability in crosswinds: 5/5 — wavy profile + shallower depth
• Stiffness under power: 5/5 — hand-built, individually tensioned

Why buy from Approved Cycling

A €3,000 wheelset is a long-term decision. We'll talk through hub choice, freehub spacing, tyre compatibility, and rotor standard before you order — not after. Slovenian-based EU shipping, full warranty support, and direct contact at hello@approvedcycling.com.

In the box

• 1× Princeton CarbonWorks Peak 4550 wheelset (front + rear)
• Thru-axle end caps for selected hub standard (disc version)
• Tubeless valves (clincher/tubeless version)
• Princeton CarbonWorks warranty documentation